One of the problems in discussing the "Fairness Doctrine" is that the name itself is misleading. The more appropriate name is "Censorship Doctrine", as it has been called by many. I have multiple reasons for Vehemently opposing the re institution of this 'doctrine', not the least of which is my desire to maintain the Right as guaranteed to me by the First Amendment of the Constitution. The liberals are all about Freedom of Speech when it comes to Blasphemy and Treason but discuss Christianity or Conservatism and that's just Dangerous!
Wikipedia explains the principle:
"The Fairness Doctrine was a policy of the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that required the holders of broadcast licenses to present controversial issues of public importance and to do so in a manner that was honest, equitable, and balanced."
What the Liberals will tell you: The Fairness Doctrine brings balanced information to the people.
The Truth: It will silence Conservative Voices.
Why? Because the Liberals already control the OLM, Talk Radio is the last bastion for Conservative Ideas to be shared. Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck are just a few of those voices that would be silenced. Conservative Talk Radio has flourished because people listen to it. Glenn Beck appropriately calls his show the "Fusion of Entertainment and Enlightenment". Conservative Hosts pride themselves on educating their audiences, with information and Wit. This model has delivered Limbaugh, Hannity and Beck the number one, two and three most listened to talk shows in the Country, in that order. So obviously it's working...
Liberal Talk Radio doesn't work mostly because people don't want to tune it to a Raving lunatic repeating himself over and over again for three hours...Think "Bush Lied" "Bush is a Liar" "Bush lies" etc. Liberals are incapable of defending their positions without resorting to Name calling and hyperbole. Who would tune it to hear that everyday? The disastrous Air America isn't successful because No one listens. No listeners, No Advertisers....it's a short trip to bankruptcy from there.
The Un-Fairness Doctrine would force Radio stations to broadcast a Liberal show for every Conservative show it airs. So if a station now airs Beck,Limbaugh, Hannity, they would be forced to replace at least one if not two of the previous with Randi Rhoades or the man who is trying to steal the Minnesota election, Stuart Smally himself, Al Franken. Radio stations would inevitably lose listeners, but they would also lose fifty percent of all the conservative Voices now on the air. When Radio Stations lose fifty percent of their listeners in one day, they switch formats, to something that will attract more listeners. Thus silencing even those Conservative shows that survived the initial cuts. Liberal Mission Accomplished.
Several democrats have expressed an interest in Censoring conservative voices through this measure, including Sen. Jeff Bingaman who calls the "Fairness Doctrine" a "Higher Calling"... in this interview with KKOB in New Mexico.
You can read more on the history of this document at the Museum of Broadcast Communications website.
The Media Research Center, a conservative media watch dog group has created The Free Speech Alliance a group according to the website that is made up of groups and individuals that are joined together to fight for Freedom of Speech. They have organized an online petition to "reject any attempts to limit free speech".
Read and Sign the Petition Here
This is our first call to Action as Good Opposition Citizens. We Must stand up for the First Amendment, Freedom of Speech. It is our most sacred right to voice our opinions with out fear of reprisals from the Government.
Update: From GatewayPundit....
John Podesta's Media Matters is paving the way for the resurgence of the Fairness Doctrine. Podesta, a co-chairman of President-elect Barack Obama's White House transition team, and former chief of staff in the Clinton administration, was a critical player in the startup of this Far Left "media monitoring" website.
Media Matters is actively pushing to reinstate the Fairness Doctrine that would essentially silence talk radio.
Read More...
Newsbusters also did a story on the OLM silence over the "Censorship Doctrine" calling it a "Broadcast Blackout".
9 comments:
Mickey, thank you for your hard work and continued support. Your words are genuine, commanding and significant. I’m sending your blog to others via my email. This issue is so very important and I am so grateful you started the movement.
If liberals control all the media then how did Bush get elected twice?
Great article, I am posting it on a group I created on Facebook. This is definitely something to be concerned about.
I am amazed at the ignorance of the people these days. I protested an Obama rally earlier this year, and the libs were rude and laughed at the First Amendment. They don't understand how precious it is. Don't they understand if a politician is willing to hush up an opponent, that same politician or person risks being hushed too if they disagree in the future. I am really sickened at the direction of my country. Every time I turn on the news, I get more upset.
Tonight I turned on the news, and the gays were violently protesting election results in California. I saw a little lady get attacked. They preach tolerance and then act untolerant. I am very worried about our country right now. With each elected we become more divided. It's not the division that worries me, it's the intolerance demonstrated by the left.
The left craves power, talk radio allows us to to connect the dots of the Politician Industrial Complex. I do not think there will be an open push to censor radio since elected Democrats are often cowards afraid of any responsibility. Its what they do behind the scenes that we have to look out for.
Anonymous,
Through vary hard work.
great work and ty so much for your visit to WHT!..will blogroll u as well!..peace~!
Thanks for your understanding and appreciation of this most timely subject. What I don't get is the notion that we all have to get along and agree on everything in this nation in order for things to work well. Our nation was cultivated on the theory that opposing view points were necessary and that adversity may produce the ideal form of government. Kudos to all opinionated talk show radio "radicals" of all political colors.
good point Clay. Prop 8 went through an now they protest all but violently. This is scary as the Left has a double standard fed by the OLM that they have the moral upper hand. This division is tearing this country as they label people as "hateful, intolerant, racist etc" and then ignore their own growing, vicious hate.
The Fairness Doctrine scares me this time around. It was misused before Reagan got rid of it in 1987, but this current generation of dems will push it past its limits. I had some fun with it though the other day; although, if that came to reality, this country would be forever gone. Check out my blog: http://bungalowbillscw.blogspot.com/2008/11/tough-times-for-conservative-bloggers.html
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